Kyle, also known by his gamer tag Bugha, started playing Fortnite as a young teen. He soon realized that he possessed exceptional skills and began competing. In 2019, at the age of 16, he entered the Fortnite World Cup and defeated 99 other players. However, the pure joy of that fame was short-lived when trolls hacked his phone, and Bugha had to learn to deal with online hate. He was also a victim of "swatting," a dangerous prank where someone falsely reports a serious crime to emergency services, causing a SWAT team to be dispatched to the victim's location.
Kyle and his father, Glenn, joined host Jay Ruderman to talk about the challenges and triumphs of being a young professional gamer. Kyle opens up about the pressure of online harassment, as well as the importance of managing his mental health in the face of trolls. Glenn shares how his and his family’s unwavering support and guidance have been integral to Kyle's journey. Jay, Bugha, and Glenn also get into how they navigate the complexities of fame, as well as Kyle’s philanthropic efforts to help lower the barrier for entry to video gaming.
Episode Chapters
(00:00) Intro to Kyle (Bugha) and Glenn
(01:19) Bugha’s Early Gaming Days
(03:55) Bugha Discovers Fortnite
(07:54) Winning the Fortnite World Cup
(10:49) The Challenges of Fame
(19:47) Mental Health: Coping with Trolling and Swatting
(26:52) Daily Routine, Burnout, and Future Ambitions
(34:14) Philanthropy: Using Fame for Good
(37:11) Conclusion and Credits
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